inside exclusive: gtr asia 2018 distilled in six points€¦ · argenta holdings ark syndicate...
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INSIDE EXCLUSIVE:
GTR Asia 2018 distilled in six
points
Singapore | Marina Bay Sands September 4-7, 2018
As the world’s leading trade, commodity and export finance publisher and event organiser, GTR offers sponsors and advertisers unrivalled exposure and profiling among their peer and client groups. GTR can offer various appealing options that would strategically and effectively help raise the profile of the partner, and offer a highly effective platform with which to showcase its capabilities and mission.
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Sponsorship opportunitiesEd Virtue Director, Global Sales [email protected] +44 (0)20 8772 3008
Speaking opportunitiesJeff Ando Director, Conference Production [email protected] +44 (0)20 8772 3015
Marketing & media opportunitiesElisabeth Spry Marketing Manager [email protected] +44 (0)20 8772 3006
GTR’s Asia Trade & Treasury Week returned to Singapore on September 4-7, 2018, reflecting on a momentous year for global trade and developments in the Asian market. Welcoming a record-breaking total of over 1,100 delegates, the event reaffirmed its status as the largest international gathering for the trade, commodity, fintech and treasury markets.
Benefitting from the use of multiple streams, coverage at the event focused on a range of topics and markets, whilst a variety of formats (breakouts, workshops, debates, formal launches, speed-networking) provided excellent opportunities for engagement and knowledge sharing with a number of exciting new market entrants. Perhaps the culmination of this was our Day 2 Tradetech Showcase Competition, held in partnership with GTR Ventures. Congratulations to AgriDigital, the successful winner of this year’s competition!
“Great networking & trade finance event amongst leading industry experts. It provided a quick update on innovative trade solutions.”
S Jameel, Petronas
“A great opportunity to connect with delegates and hear the latest trade and trade technology developments.”
J Ellwood-Russell, Simmons and Simmons
Once registered, log-in to GTR
Connect to network with
fellow delegates, download event
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Official conference hashtag: #GTRATTW
Overviewwww.gtreview.com
7%EUROPEFrance Germany Netherlands Spain Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom
12%REST OF ASIA
Australia Bangladesh China, Hong Kong India, Indonesia Japan, Malaysia Mongolia New Zealand Philippines South Korea Sri Lanka, Taiwan Thailand Vietnam
4%REST OF WORLDSouth AfricaBrazil British Virgin Islands Canada Cayman Islands United StatesEgyptMauritiusPakistanQatarUnited Arab Emirates
77%SINGAPORE
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Percentage of attendees by region in 2018
Attendee breakdown by job title in 2018
80%
Senior level
3%
Mid-level
17%
C-level
2018’s vital statistics
1,123Delegates
470Companies
105Speakers
Sectors attended in 2018
Cor
pora
tes
& tr
ader
s
Ban
ks &
fina
ncie
rs
Tech
nolo
gy &
fint
ech
Insu
rers
& ri
sk m
anag
ers
Non
-ban
k fin
anci
ers
Con
sulta
nts
& a
ccou
ntan
ts
Gov
t org
s &
pub
lic b
odie
s
Law
yers
Med
ia
EC
As
& m
ultil
ater
als
Oth
er
54% 12% 7% 6% 5% 4% 4% 2% 2% 1% 3%
Company size breakdown in 2018
63%Multinational
21%Mid
16%SME
Statisticswww.gtreview.com
Trade Finance
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DELEGATE BAG SPONSOR LANYARD SPONSOR
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Sponsors & partnerswww.gtreview.com2018’s conference was supported by
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Corporates & traders
AAK AB
ABB Group
Adani Enterprises
Adriot
Agridigital
Agritrade International
Agrocorp International
Alere
ALPS
Alstom
Ameropa
Anglo American
Apeiron Agrocommodities
Apollo Tyres
Aquifer Institute
Arcadia
ArcelorMittal
Archer Daniels Midland
Archroma
Aries Fertilizers Group
Ascon Group
Asia & Africa General Trading
Atlantic Industrial & Trading
Atlantic Resource Trading
Avani Resources
Awin Resource International
Bangchak Corporation Public Company
Baosteel Group
BCP Trading
BHP Billiton
Bosch
BP
Bunge
Business Aggregate
C. Steinweg Group
Canwell Commerce
Cargill
Caterpillar Inc
CEMCOA Energy
CEVA Logistics
CHS
Citic Commodities
City Developments Singapore
CJ Cheil Jedang
Clarins
CMA CGM
Coeclerici
Cofco
Commscope Solutions Singapore
Complete Intelligence
Connell Brothers
Culum Capital
D&L Industries
Daimler
Danone
DB Schenker
Decathlon
Dell
Delta Neutral
Denare
Dover Corporation
Dyson
ECOM Agroindustrial
Enerfo
Engelhart Commodities Trading Partners
ENOC
Equentia Natural Resources
Export Trading Group (ETG)
Farzana Trading
First Resources Limited
FMC Agro
Fortex International
Freepoint Commodities
Friesland Campina
Fullerton Health
Gail Global
Gamacorp
Gazprom
General Electric (GE)
General Mills
Giti
GKE Metal Logistic
GlaxoSmithKline
Glencore International
Global Asia Commodity
Global Trade Well
Gold Vintage International
Golden Agri Resources
Goodyear Orient Company
Goodyear Singapore Tyres
Gulf Petrochem
Gunvor Group
Haier
Halcyon Agri
Hankook Tire
Harley Davidson
Helm
Hewlett Packard Asia Pacific
Hongrun International Energy
Huawei Technologies
Hydro Aluminium
Hydrogen Energy
Hyundai Corporation
Indian Oil Corporation
Indorama Polychem
Integra
Intel Corporation
Inter-Continental Oil and Fats
Interflour Group
Invista
Invivo Group Asia
Isuzu Motors Asia
ITG Recources
Itochu Corporation
Jaguar Steel & Coal
Jaypee Group
JBR Online Singapore
JERA Trading Singapore
Jiangtong International
Jiusan Group
JSW International Trade Corporation
Just Oils & Grains
KCTex International
Kellogg Asia Pacific
Keppel Corporation
Knowledge International Strategy Systems
Kobian
KTC Group Holdings
Lenovo
LG Electronics
Liberty Commodities
Lidl Hong Kong
Linde Group
Lixil International
Lobb Heng
Longview Resources
Lotte Chemical Titan
Louis Dreyfus Commodities
LUKOIL
Mabanaft
Mac World Industries
Maersk Group
Marubeni Asean
Matrix Bharat
Mercancia Continental DMCC
Mercuria Energy Group
Mesco Steel
Mewah Oils & Fats
Mitsui & Co
Mosaic
MRI Trading
Muntajat
Musim Mas Group
Navitas Resources
Nestlé
Nokia
Novatek
Ocean Network Express
Oil India International
Olam International
Omni United
ONGC
Oracle
OSIM International
Oxyde Chemicals Singapore
Pacific Rim Group
Parthnon Derivatives
Pepperl+Fuchs
Peter Cremer
Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore
PetroEast
Petrolimex
Phillips 66
Phoenix Global
Phoenix Petroleum Philippines
Phosagro
PNX Petroleum Singapore
Posco Daewoo
Prax Pte
PRETB
PTT International Trading
Quadra Commodities
Raffemet
RCMA Group
Reliance Industries
Repsol
Resfeber International
RGE Group
Rhodium Resources
Rice Exchange
Rio Tinto
RK Galaxy
Robert Bosch
Roda Enigma
Rohde & Schwarz
RWE Group
Sabic Asia Pacific
Safmarine
Samsung Corporation
Sanofi
Scheider Electrics
Schenker Asia Pacific
Scoot
Sembcorp Industries
SG Global Enterprise
SGP Singapore
Shell
Shell & Turcas Petrol (STA)
Shilla Travel Retail
Sinochem International
Sinopec International
SKF
Sojitz
Soleum Enegry
South32
Stemcor
Sumifru
Sumitomo Chemical Asia
Syngenta Agro
T S Global Holdings
Taas India
Tai Chong Cheang Group (TCC Group)
Tata Steel
Terumo Asia Holdings
Tex Line Associates
The Bangchak Petroleum Co
Total Gas & Power
Toyota Tsusho Corporation
Trafigura Group
UIL
Unipec
UPM - Kymmene Corporation
UPS
US Saray Banks & Ships Owners
Vale
Valency International Trading
Vankor India
Verifone
Verizon Communications Inc.
Viant Commodities
Virgoz Oils & Fats
Visa Resources
Vital Solutions
Vitol
Volvo Group
Welcome Trading
West Pharmaceutical Services
Wilmar International
Wilson International Trading
Window Seat Group
World Fuel Services
Xangbo Global Markets
Xinglong Grains & Oils
Zagro Asia Limited
Attendees www.gtreview.com1,123 delegates attended 2018’s conference representing the following companies
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Banks & financiers
ABN AMRO Bank
Asian Development Bank
Bank ABC
Bank Asia
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Bank of China
Barclays
BMO Capital Markets
BNY Mellon
China CITIC Bank
CIMB Group
Citi
Commerzbank
Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank
CYS Global Remit
DBS Bank
Deutsche Bank
Eastern Bank
Emirates NBD
Euro Exim Bank
Export-Import Bank of Malaysia
First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)
Golomt Bank
Habib Metropolitan Bank
HSBC
ICICI Bank
iLoan Lanka
Incomlend
Intesa Sanpaolo
J.P. Morgan
Keyfincorp
KfW IPEX Bank
Lloyds Bank
Macquarie Bank
Mastercard
Maybank
MCB
Mizuho Bank
MUFG
Mutual Trust Bank
NAB
OCBC Bank
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited (OCBC)
Prime Bank
Rabobank
RHB Banking Group
Saigon-Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB)
Santander
SEB
Société Générale
Standard Chartered
Trade & Development Bank of Mongolia (TDB)
UniCredit
United Overseas Bank (UOB)
Vietnam Eximbank
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company
Westpac Banking Corporation
Zuercher Kantonalbank
Consultants & accountants
Aasatr
Accenture
Atlantic Directors
Azzana Consulting
Centennial Asia Advisors
Certis International
CM Services
Complete Intelligence
CRIF
GBRW Expert Witness Limited
Grass Roots Advisors
Hartree Partners
IHS Markit
Kernmantle
Latour Commodities Advisory
Nuevo Asia Capital
Opus Advisory Services International
Rembrook Holdings
S&P Global Market Intelligence
Trade Advisory Network
Omniscient Software
Open Trade Documents
Sameer Mittal & Associates
SpEX Asia
Straits
Trade Advisory Network
Workflow Solutions
Insurers & risk managers
AIG
Aon
Argenta Hold ings
Ark Syndicate Management
Arthur J. Gallagher
Asia Capital Reinsurance Group
AXA
BPL Global
Canopius
Chaucer Syndicates
Chubb Global Markets
Coface
EDGE Group Brokers
Euler Hermes
Global Collateral Control (GCC)
Ironshore
JLT Specialty
Lancashire Insurance Group
Liberty International Underwriters
Liberty Mutual Insurance
Marsh
MS Amlin
MST Insurance Services
MST Singapore
Munich Re
RKH Specialty
Seabury Trade Finance
Swiss Re Corporate Solutions
Tokio Marine Kiln Singapore
Willis Towers Watson
Zurich Credit & Political Risk
Willis Towers Watson
XL Catlin
Zurich Credit & Political Risk
Govt orgs & public bodies
Africa South East Asia Chamber of Commerce
African Agri Council
Asia Business Trade Association
Asian Trade Centre
Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT)
Austrian Embassy
Enterprise Singapore
Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA)
Hong Kong Internet Finance Association (HKIFA)
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
ICC Banking Commission
Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade (MODSIT)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Monetary Authority of Singapore
Polish Investment & Trade Agency
PTT Public Company
Singapore Customs
Singapore Tourism Board
The French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (FCCS)
UK Trade & Investment
World Trade Organization (WTO)
Media
BBC
Deal Street Asia
GTR
JCDecaux Asia
PR Newswire
South 32 Marketing
Thomson Reuters
Technology & fintech
Arkratos
Bolero International
Celera
China Systems
Cisco Systems
Cryptoprofile
Culum Capital
Delio
eFundSME Global
ELCY
Enerfo
EZY Corporation
Global Trade Corporation
HPD Software
Lucidity Digital
MIT Micro Informatique & Technologies
Mitigram
Novamondo Finance Limited
Pelican
Pole Star
Premium Technology
R3 CEV
Rackspace
Redington Distribution
RMS Credit
RM-Tech
Seagate Technology
Sunway Group
Swift
Syngco
Taulia
Tech Data Corporation
Tinubu Square
TradeAssets
TradeIX
Tradeteq
Non-bank financiers
101 Capital
Caravel Capital
Convergence Capital Group
EFA Group
ExWorks Capital
Falcon Group
GE Capital
Genting Singapore
Greensill Capital (UK) Limited
GTR Ventures
KK Fund
NR Capital
Nuevo Asia Advisors
Orbitt Capital
Prime Investrade
Riqueza Capital Group
SABIC Capital
Stenn International
Swan River Capital
TCG Capital
Trade Finance Market
Wilben Trade
Lawyers
Adonis-Roberts Consultancy & Law
Bird & Bird ATMD
Clifford Chance
Clyde & Co LLP
DLA Piper
Economic Laws Practice
HFW
Reed Smith
RPC Premier Law
Shook Lin & Bok
Simmons & Simmons
Other
Fosun RZ Capital SEA
ICC Academy
IIBLP
NUS Business School
Puissant International
Techstars
The London Institute of Banking & Finance
World CSR Day
Attendees www.gtreview.com1,123 delegates attended 2018’s conference representing the following companies
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●● Syed Hasnain Haider Rizvi, Head of Compliance, Habib Metropolitan Bank Pakistan
●● Cheam Hing Lee, Chief Executive Officer, Rhodium Group
●● Serene Ho, Director, National Trade Platform Office (NTPO), Singapore Customs
●● Mark Houghton, Regional Manager, Asia Pacific, Political Risk & Trade Credit Insurance, XL Catlin
●● Gerald Huang, Senior Vice-President, Global Relationship Executive, Premium Technology/
●● Inwha Huh, Global Head of Structured Trade Solutions, HSBC
●● Janet Hyde, Investment Specialist, Trade Finance Program, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
●● Atul Jain, Head of Trade Finance & Trade Flow, Deutsche Bank
●● Tom James, Chief Executive Officer, NR Capital
●● Xavier Jean, CFA, Senior Director, Corporate Ratings, S&P Global Ratings
●● Munish Kaushal, Area Finance Director, South East Asia, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare
●● John Khaw, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Lucidity
●● Willem Klaassens, CEO & Executive Consultant, Latour Commodities Advisory
●● Dimitri Kouchnirenko, Founder, Incomlend
●● Puja Kumar, Director, Head of Trade Risk Distribution APAC, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
●● Rakshith Kundha, Head of Trade & Supply Chain Finance, South East Asia & India, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
●● Stanley Kwok, Senior Vice-President, Chief Administrative Officer, International Trade Services, Asia Pacific, Wells Fargo
●● Tony Lam, General Manager, Finance & Treasury Division, Tai Chong Cheang Steamship Co.
●● Gergely Abraham, Regional Treasury & Structured Finance, Asia, Nokia
●● Amit Agarwal, Head of Open Account Trade Products, Global Transaction Services, DBS
●● Chris Ash, Managing Director, ExWorks Capital
●● Marc Auboin, Counsellor, Economic Research & Statistics Division, World Trade Organization (WTO)
●● Azeem Azmi, Vice-President, Enterprise Development, MasterCard
●● Steven Beck, Head of Trade & Supply Chain Finance, Asian Development Bank
●● Finbarr Bermingham, Asia Editor, Global Trade Review (GTR)
●● Manu Bhaskaran, Director of Policy Advisory, Centennial Group International
●● Natalie Blyth, Global Head of Global Trade & Receivables Finance, HSBC
●● Graham Bright, Head of Compliance & Operations, Euro Exim
●● Eugene Buckley, Business Development Asia Pacific, TradeIX
●● John Bugeja, Managing Director, Trade Advisory Network (TAN)
●● Alex Capri, Senior Fellow, NUS Business School
●● Ginnie Chin, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Culum Capital
●● Ashish Chopra, Vice-President, Arkratos
●● Joshua Cohen, Managing Director, Financial Institutions, Mitigram
●● Robert Cooper, Regional Director, Credit, Political & Security Risks, Asia, JLT Specialty
●● Paul Davidson, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Financial Solutions, Willis Towers Watson
“Ample opportunities to network and meet with the Who’s-Who of international trade!”
V Sharma, Wells Fargo
●● Sanjay Desai, Senior Director, Verifone
●● Francois Dotta, Chief Executive Officer, EFA Group
●● Jolyon Ellwood-Russell, Partner, Simmons & Simmons
●● Deborah Elms, Executive Director, Asian Trade Centre; Vice-Chair, Asia Business Trade Association (ABTA); Senior Fellow, Singapore Ministry of Trade & Industry
●● Kai Fehr, Head of Trade, Asia Pacific, International Trade Services, Wells Fargo
●● Samuel Fong, Chief Operating Officer, Agritrade International
●● Holger Frank, Head of FIG & GTB, Asia Pacific Region, UniCredit Bank
●● Eugene Ganchev, Head of Trade & Commodity Finance, Asia Pacific, ABN AMRO
●● Paul Gardner, Global Head of Structured Commodity Finance, Westpac Banking Corporation
●● Huny Garg, Global Head of Trade & Supply Chain, Swift
●● Shirish Garg, Head, Supply Chain Finance Sales & Client Delivery, Transaction Banking Office for Asia, MUFG Bank
●● Christoph Gugelmann, Co-Founder & CEO, Tradeteq
●● Sarah Gulston, Divisional Director, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
●● Benjamin Hadfield, South East Asia Country Manager, Trade Finance, Maersk
●● Rebecca Harding, Independent Economist; Women in FinTech Powerlist, 2017; Author, ‘The Weaponization of Trade’
Speakers www.gtreview.com2018’s speakers included
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●● Lee Teng Whatt, Executive Director, Structured Trade & Trade Finance Sales, Global Transaction Services, DBS
●● Tristram Travers, Director, Rembrook Holdings
●● Mark Troutman, Group Head of Sales, Global Transaction Services, DBS
●● Cobe Tsang, President & Chief Operating Officer, Novamondo
●● John Turnbull, Director, Certis International
●● Richard Usher, Partner, DLA Piper
●● Raj Uttamchandani, Executive Director, Trade Finance Market
●● Srinivasan Venkita Padmanabhan, President & Global Head, Corporate Finance, Olam International
●● Anupam Verma, Chief Executive, ICICI Bank, Singapore
●● Vishal Vijay, Head of Business Development, Agrocorp
●● Tim Warren, Head of Credit Lines, Asia Pacific, Zurich Insurance Company
●● Carl Wegner, Managing Director, Head of Asia, R3
●● Emma Weston, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, AgriDigital
●● Anushka Wijesinha, Trade Advisor, Ministry of Development Strategies & International Trade, Government of Sri Lanka
●● Ross Wilkinson, Head of Global Accounts, Bolero International
●● Eric Wong, Director, TCG Capital
●● Cheng Ye, China Country Manager & Shanghai Branch Manager, Wells Fargo
●● Irene Zeng, Head of Cash Management Global Banking Sales, Greater China, HSBC
●● Juliet Zhu, Vice-President, Investment, Fosun RZ Capital SEA
●● Paul Landless, Partner, Clifford Chance
●● Nicolas Langlois, Managing Director, Global Head of Trade Distribution Standard Chartered Bank
●● Amanda Lees, Partner, Simmons & Simmons
●● Kenny Leung, President & Chief Executive Officer, Premium Technology
●● Christina Li, Head of Supply Chain Financing, Wells Fargo
●● Weiping Li, Senior Financial Advisor, ABB Singapore
●● Robert Lin, President & Chief Executive Officer, Seabury Trade Finance Exchange
●● Daniel Lit, Executive Director, Global Trade Product Management, Global Transaction Services, DBS
●● Alexander Malaket, President, Opus Advisory Services International
●● Samuel Mathew, Managing Director, Head of Documentary Trade Products, Standard Chartered Bank
●● Peter Matza, Speakers’ Chair, Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT)
●● Lisa McAuley, Chief Executive Officer, Global Trade Professionals Alliance (GTPA); Former Chief Executive Officer, Export Council of Australia
●● I-Mei Chan, Regional Head, Distribution & Credit Solutions, Deutsche Bank
●● Tolentino Mendonca, Managing Director, Regional Head of Trade Finance, Asia-Pacific, Credit Agricole
●● Vinay Mendonca, Global Head of Product & Proposition, Global Trade & Receivables Finance, HSBC
●● Melinda Moore, Managing Director, Corporate Sales, Mitigram
●● Tony Nash, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Complete Intelligence
●● Nitin Navandher, Group Finance Controller, Phoenix Global
“A great exchange of ideas, with many good opportunities to think outside the box!”
C Lam, Barclays
●● Amanda Northey, Regional Head, APAC Financial Markets, Pole Star PurpleTrac
●● Vincent O’Brien, Member of the Executive Committee, ICC Banking Commission
●● Gideon Ong, Co-Founder, RM-Tech Co
●● Jérome Pezé, Chief Executive Officer, Tinubu Square
●● Yian Ping Teo, Regional Treasurer & General Manager, Shell Treasury Centre East
●● Bart Raemaekers, Unit Head, Guarantees & Syndications, Asian Development Bank
●● Anupam Saraf, Managing Director, Linde Treasury Asia Pacific
●● Chris Sawyer, Manager, Global Financial Risks, Asia Pacific, Liberty International Underwriters
●● Shivkumar Seerapu, Managing Director, Head of Global Transaction Banking, Asia Pacific, Lloyds Bank
●● Gopul Shah, Director, Corporate Treasury & Head of Structured Trade Finance, Golden Agri-Resources
●● Sanman Shetty, Head, Trade & Supply Chain Finance Sales, Transaction Banking Office for Asia, MUFG
●● Rajesh Shroff, Chief Financial Officer, Adani Singapore
●● Satvinder Singh, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Singapore
●● Lionel Taylor, Managing Director, Trade Advisory Network (TAN)
Speakers www.gtreview.com2018’s speakers included
9
THAT’S A WRAP!
Post-conference report: GTR Asia 2018 distilled in six points
GTR’s Asia Trade & Treasury Week returned to Singapore from 4 to 7 September 2018, reflecting on a momentous year for global trade and its influence on the Asian market.
Bringing together a record-breaking 1,100 industry participants, from local and international banks to multinational corporations and SMEs, independent financiers, commodity brokers and traders, insurers and risk managers, lawyers, consultants, ECAs and multilaterals, the event covered a wide range of topics, from the impacts on Asia of the US-China trade war to the outlook for intra-regional trade, and the perennial hot topic of digitisation and the use of tech in trade. In this post-conference wrap-up, Eleanor Wragg brings together some of the main takeaways and key insights.
Read the full report online here.
I N P A R T N E R S H I P W I T H
P O S T - C O N F E R E N C E R E P O R T F R O M
1. Asia’s place in a changing world
2. Regional flows, patterns and the
outlook for growth: the truth behind
Asian trade
3. Closing the trade finance gap with
tradetech
4. Where do funds fit
into the established corporate/bank
ecosystem?
5. Is China opening up or closing off?
Read the full report
6. Lifting the weight of regulation and
new risks
GTR Asia 2018 distilled in six points www.gtreview.com
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GTR’s Asia Trade & Treasury Week once again proved an overwhelming success for 2018, bringing together over 1,100 people from the world of trade to consider the latest developments, both in Asia and from a global perspective. With over 25 sessions and a range of topical subjects to cover distilling these into just 5 key messages is no easy task, but here goes:
1. Trump and the trade war – other opinions are available
With the broad liberal consensus seemingly held by most economists that the US-China trade spat is all Trump’s fault, helped in no doubt by the echo chamber that is social media, it was refreshing to hear a new take and a genuine debate on the issue by 2 economists renowned for their contrasting views. Deborah Elms (Asian Trade Center, a lobbying firm) and Tony Nash (Complete Intelligence, a data technology company) provided an entertaining and engaging discussion from completely different perspectives, one in staunch opposition to the current US tariff-based strategy and the other placing more blame at the door of China. Managing to be adversarial whilst still keeping things (fairly) friendly, your average consensus-based panel discussion this was not!
2. Lies, damned lies and statistics
Whilst recognising the old adage that “you can prove anything with statistics”, nonetheless this year’s event threw up some interesting facts around Asian trade. Intra-regional ASEAN trade has led growth through recent downturns with a notable shift in supply chains, while on a country level Vietnam and Hong Kong have been shown to be the fastest growing. Foreign direct investment provides a mixed picture, perhaps unsurprising in a continent of hugely diverse markets. Meanwhile the issue of technology continues to be something of a hot potato – eight
out of 10 countries with the largest share of ICT in their exports are in Asia, while the US still exports a lot of intellectual property to China. These were all points made in a fantastic high level opening discussion session that welcomed banks and corporates alike, expertly moderated by Kai Fehr of Wells Fargo and assisted by economist Rebecca Harding (think Carol Vorderman to his Richard Whiteley, for those old enough to remember the TV show Countdown!)
3. Things move quickly in the world of trade
If there is one thing that can be guaranteed when covering trade across a continent as diverse and wide-ranging as Asia it is that things rarely stand still. Whilst some markets previously heralded as the next great frontiers (Mongolia, Myanmar) have stalled due to political and economic headwinds, others (Sri Lanka, Bangladesh) seem to be on the march, with plenty of interest and inquiries. This could all change by 2019 however, with the only constant being the huge regional investment and ambitious policy initiatives announced by China on an almost daily basis, its regional influence seemingly never having been greater. Even then, only a couple of years ago we were being told about the inevitable rise of Remnimbi as a global settlement currency, which hasn’t quite materialised just yet...
THAT’S A WRAP!
GTR Singapore 2018 - Our ‘Takeaways’
“If there is one thing that can be guaranteed when covering trade across a continent as diverse and wide-ranging as Asia it is that things rarely stand still.”
Jeff Ando, Global Trade Review
4. It’s tough being a start-up
Our inaugural GTR Ventures Tradetech Showcase Competition proved a huge success in introducing delegates to a wide range of innovative and interesting companies, all of whom were keen to present their capabilities and ‘pitch’ their services, business models and strategies to a venerable panel of expert judges. This segment of the event, using a format that left no time for waffle and rewarded brevity, demonstrated how hard it can be as a new entrant into a disrupted and disintermediated market. It was brutal at times with no punches pulled (one of our judges took great delight in being described as the Simon Cowell of trade finance) but at the end a winner was crowned – congratulations to AgriDigital!
5. Regulation and compliance (not to mention crime) are still huge issues
Coming into the afternoon of Day 2 and with various streams and exhibition area activities still going on, we were anticipating our regulation breakout session to be a small (but still engaged) crowd, providing the opportunity to hear from an expert panel before breaking the room into groups for further brainstorming and idea-sharing. We were therefore pleasantly surprised to welcome a room that was full to bursting, requiring us to add more seating and leading us to tear up the initial plans and hold an audience-based Q&A which continued well into the break. Some of the stories and anecdotes were hugely entertaining, whilst others were frankly scary! At times it felt like a group therapy session...
In addition to these subject-based takeaways, we still of course had plenty of time for networking...
Our ‘Takeaways’www.gtreview.com